Kinde "Ineligible Device"

3188 Views 27 Replies 11 Participants Last post by JetJammer, Jan 8, 2013

JetJammer

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2013

Had an issue come up today with a couple of purchased Kindle books, wondering if anyone else has had the problem.

I purchased two books from and downloaded them to my $69 Kindle in November, both by the same author (Kristen Ashley). I have since read one of the two books (Heaven and Hell), and removed it from the device. I attempted today to redownload it to my Kindle from the Archive, but I get an "ineligible for this type device" error message. I even tried using the "manage your kindle" option to send them to my kindle but the option doesn't even come up (so it won't send to my Fire or my Android phone either).

I spoke to someone in kindle customer service who could only tell me the books can't be read or downloaded to a Kindle, only a PC or IPad, and I have to read it on my PC. Obviously this is not true, or at least, was not true in November when I purchased them. In fact, the second book (Fairytale Come Alive) is still on my Kindle and works fine. I have no desire to read on my PC, and would never purchase a book that required that. In fact, since I originally purchased the book FROM my Kindle, this is just idiotic.

I don't know what is going on here, but I can only guess the eligible device permissions were changed AFTER I purchased the books, which is completely unacceptable. Perhaps it was just an oversight and needs to be corrected. If not, and it is normal procedure to make my purchases useless after I pay for them, I'm going to be a seriously unhappy customer. I have over 2000 Kindle books I have purchased from Amazon and do not look forward to having to fight for the right to read them.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

backslidr

· #2 · Jan 7, 2013

Another good reason to keep all your books on your Kindle and not trust them to somebody else to manage. I'd keep trying with customer service and see if they can straighten it out. If not, I'd ask for a refund.

Ann in Arlington

· #3 · Jan 7, 2013

I think you need to contact them again. . . . . . that really just doesn't sound right. . . . .if they give you the same story, ask to speak to a supervisor.

The only other thing I can think is that you get a similar message if you've reached your device limit. Remember, that's usually 6, but it can be fewer.

Do you have links to the books -- maybe someone else can check on their behavior?

There ARE some books that are 'enhanced' but the enhancement is only for iPad. . . .the book part is still perfectly readable; you just don't get the extra stuff.

Oh, and, I wonder if it would help to de-register and then re-register the device that it's not seeming to recognize? That's been known to work sometimes when these downloading glitches happen.

GBear

· #4 · Jan 7, 2013

There IS a note on the Amazon page for Heaven and Hell that this book is only available for the Cloud Reader and Kindle for iPad. Seems very odd, but that's what it says.

Since last March, I've downloaded everything I buy or read via the library to my PC and then load via USB. That protects the books I buy from things like this as well as letting me read the library books at my own pace without worrying about the due date.

Ann in Arlington

· #5 · Jan 7, 2013

Even given this sort of thing, I don't see a need to back up my books elsewhere than Amazon. But I'll say this: If I bought a book that stopped working on regular kindles after the fact, I'd be definitely looking for my money back. Even if something changes YOU should ALWAYS have access to what YOU purchased originally.

And, if I see that sort of notation on a book, I won't buy it at all. . . . . what can the publisher be thinking? $:-\$ I wonder if they even realize it's restricted? I just provided some negative feedback via the product page link: Heaven and Hell Scroll nearly to the bottom if you want to do so as well.

The other one mentioned says the same thing: Fairytale Come Alive. I provided feedback there as well.

Atunah

· #6 · Jan 7, 2013

Kristen Ashley, prolific romance self publisher that got some of her books under contract by a publisher. But not those. These are still published by the author herself. This much be some mistake or mixup somewhere.

Sandpiper

· #7 · Jan 7, 2013

On the Amazon pages for the books, the drop-down box for "Send sample now" only allows to Cloud Reader. Other choices which are names of your Kindle(s) are grayed out.

Betsy the Quilter

· #8 · Jan 7, 2013

You might also try contacting the author, since the books are self published. It seems to me there must have been some kind of error in the upload process. On her website, she says Heaven and Hell is available for the Amazon Kindle with no caveats. Here are the links for her site and Facebook Page:

http://www.kristenashley.net/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristen-Ashley/83283039199?ref=ts

Edited to add: I really think there must be some mistake; I can't imagine why an author would publish to the Kindle Store and not allow the books to be on Kindle.....

Betsy

readingril

· #9 · Jan 7, 2013

It's available @ Smashwords, but I keep getting error messages navigating the site.

KellyHarper

· #10 · Jan 7, 2013

As a self-published author I really hope someone lets me know if this is happening to one of my books. This sounds very strange.

A work-around recommendation (though this shouldn't be necessary at all!):

Download the book to Kindle for PC. Browse to your Kindle folder (where all of the books are saved) and side-load the file directly into your kindle. You may not know which file is the right one: Just sort by "creation date" and select the newest .mobi file that was created

.

Good luck! I hope you find a more permanent resolution.

edit: if the book is DRM protected it won't be .mobi. I believe it will be .azw or something - just selected the largest & newest file when you sort by "creation date"

Atunah

· #11 · Jan 7, 2013

If its DRM protected, I am pretty sure you can't move it from K4PC to any other device. It will only work in K4PC. You'd have to download the book for each device and save on computer and then move it. But that is not an option here since its not an eligible device. Odd this one.

Betsy the Quilter

· #12 · Jan 7, 2013

KellyHarper said:
As a self-published author I really hope someone lets me know if this is happening to one of my books. This sounds very strange.

A work-around recommendation (though this shouldn't be necessary at all!):

Download the book to Kindle for PC. Browse to your Kindle folder (where all of the books are saved) and side-load the file directly into your kindle. You may not know which file is the right one: Just sort by "creation date" and select the newest .mobi file that was created .

Good luck! I hope you find a more permanent resolution.

edit: if the book is DRM protected it won't be .mobi. I believe it will be .azw or something - just selected the largest & newest file when you sort by "creation date"

Two things: One, Kindle for PC is not one of the eligible devices in this case, I don't think, and two: DRM'd books are registered to the device, and Kindle for PC is considered a registered device for DRM purposes. You can't download to it and then copy to a different device if the books is DRM'd. Edit: I type slower than Atunah.

Betsy

Atunah

· #13 · Jan 7, 2013

Betsy the Quilter said:
I type slower than Atunah.

Betsy

Well at least something

history_lover

· #14 · Jan 7, 2013

JetJammer said:
I don't know what is going on here, but I can only guess the eligible device permissions were changed AFTER I purchased the books, which is completely unacceptable. Perhaps it was just an oversight and needs to be corrected.

It does seem like this is probably what happened. I am assuming it was an error because I can't think of any reason why someone would deliberately change it. I would try to contact the author and let her know so it can be resolved.

Betsy the Quilter

· #15 · Jan 7, 2013

history_lover said:
It does seem like this is probably what happened. I am assuming it was an error because I can't think of any reason why someone would deliberately change it. I would try to contact the author and let her know so it can be resolved.

I agree. Here's the contact info, JetJammer, in case you missed it earlier:

Here are the links for her site and Facebook Page:

http://www.kristenashley.net/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristen-Ashley/83283039199?ref=ts

Betsy

JetJammer

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 7, 2013

Actually, the first thing that occurred to me was maybe I had it downloaded on too many devices, so I went through all my others (and yes, there are several), but it actually wasn't on a single one, just the archive. That's when I tried the "send to" and discovered that wasn't an option either.

I did try contacting customer service again. While polite, they weren't terribly helpful. I got the same "it can only be read on your PC" answer, although this time they did agree to refund the book. I really don't think they understood the problem - she kept wanting me to restart my Kindle... I'll try again in a bit, maybe via EMail so I can better explain the problem in writing, sometimes that helps.

I'm working on the assumption that since they're both by the same author that it's merely a mistake, although on whose part I'm not sure. I did sent a message to the author, good idea, thanks. I'll try the feedback as well.

While annoying, it's not the end of the world, but it makes me nervous about all the other books I have Archived. I'm trying to avoid the paranoid reaction of going through and re-downloading all of them again just in case, especially since I don't WANT all those books on my Kindle at one time. Hopefully things will resolve themselves and this was just a fluke.

Although, maybe I'd better read the other one quickly while it's still on my "ineligible device", where they keep telling me it can't possibly be!

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Betsy the Quilter

· #17 · Jan 7, 2013

JetJammer said:
Actually, the first thing that occurred to me was maybe I had it downloaded on too many devices, so I went through all my others (and yes, there are several), but it actually wasn't on a single one, just the archive. That's when I tried the "send to" and discovered that wasn't an option either.

I did try contacting customer service again. While polite, they weren't terribly helpful. I got the same "it can only be read on your PC" answer, although this time they did agree to refund the book. I really don't think they understood the problem - she kept wanting me to restart my Kindle... I'll try again in a bit, maybe via EMail so I can better explain the problem in writing, sometimes that helps.

I'm working on the assumption that since they're both by the same author that it's merely a mistake, although on whose part I'm not sure. I did sent a message to the author, good idea, thanks. I'll try the feedback as well.

While annoying, it's not the end of the world, but it makes me nervous about all the other books I have Archived. I'm trying to avoid the paranoid reaction of going through and re-downloading all of them again just in case, especially since I don't WANT all those books on my Kindle at one time. Hopefully things will resolve themselves and this was just a fluke.

Although, maybe I'd better read the other one quickly while it's still on my "ineligible device", where they keep telling me it can't possibly be!

JetJammer, don't be nervous. This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening, so it's not a common problem. And I would contact the author at one of the links I've posted below. I really believe that it's been some kind of mistake on the author's part...

Betsy

Ann in Arlington

· #18 · Jan 7, 2013

Betsy the Quilter said:
JetJammer, don't be nervous. This is the first time I've ever heard of this happening, so it's not a common problem. And I would contact the author at one of the links I've posted below. I really believe that it's been some kind of mistake on the author's part...

Betsy

And I'd say report it to Amazon via the book page as well. . . . . if enough people bring it to their attention perhaps they'll alert the author too.

readingril

· #19 · Jan 7, 2013

It looks like Fairytale Come Alive is now available for other devices, but Heaven and Hell is not (yet). Too late, Amazon, as the book intrigued me enough I persevered with the Smashwords problem I had, and got a 20% discount code from subscribing to her newsletter, and used Send to Kindle to get it on my PW.

Tripp

· #20 · Jan 8, 2013

There is an active thread in the Amazon forum about this issue. There is an author that has been affected by this who did not choose to restrict devices. There is something strange going on.

Here is the link if interested:

http://www.amazon.com/forum/kindle/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg1?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx1D7SY3BVSESG&cdPage=1&cdThread=Tx3CNVBBPOHAMIP

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